Charles robert schupphaus



to form what is known as.collodion.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES ROBERT SCHUPPHAUS, OF ZYLONITE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN ZYLONITE COMPANY, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

PYROXYLINE VARNISH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,208, dated. September 3, 1889.

Application filed December 20, 1888- Serial No. 294,158- lSpecimens.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, CHARLES Ro ERr SCHUPPHAUS, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Zylonite, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and'useful Improvements in Solvents of Pyroxyline, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of plastic compounds IO whose base is soluble pyroxyline, the solvent first used was commercial ethylic ether This commercial ethylic ether in 18l8 always con tained alcohol, and ethylic ether with ethylic I 5 alcohol is a perfect solvent of dinitro-cellulose; but the cost of this solvent, owing to the tax on alcohol, limits its employment. VVood-naphtha or methylic alcohol is a very perfect solvent of dinit-ro-cellulose; but the solvents preferred by most manufacturers is composed of camphor and alcohol in equal parts. The camphor being a solid and having high melting and boiling points,it is necessary to use some liquid to dissolve the campnor. The solution is usually either ethylic or methylic alcohol, or a mixture of them. These liquid solvents evaporate largely from the mass during manipulation of the rolls and the steam heat of the presses; and by subsequent curing and molding the production of the plastic compound is considerably enhanced in cost incident to the loss of weight from these causes. ing the fact that a large number of other solvents have been heretoforeproposed, few, if any, have been found to give perfectly sat isfactory results, and consequently ethylic and methylic alcohols continueto be used. Such being the state of the art,I commenced a series of investigations with a view to determine what solvents would serve either as a substitute in whole or in part for the aloohols' mentioned, whether the same be used alone or in combination with camphor or other solvents. The result of my investigations has been that I have found, among other materials, that acetate of glycerine,

when carefully prepared, is an excellent solv ent of pyroxyline. This substance is a thick colorless liquid boiling at about 500 Fahrenheit, and by reason of its high boiling-point and great solvent power is admirably adapted for the purpose. Its viscidity also, in 0011- as follows: for the monacetin, C H O H C of the ingredients to be used are determined Notwithstan d in this specification is usedto designate the hours in a long-necked flask, whereby the "a junction with the other characteristics named,

renders it an excellent base for a zylonite printing-ink. This menstruum is compatible with the solvents well known and at present commercially used in themanufacture of collodion or zylonite. l I

By boiling anhydrous glycerine in conj unction with glacial acetic acid, a monacetin, a diacet-in, or a triacetin may beobtained, the construction of the resulting product-being governed by conditions well known to chem? ists. The formula of each ofthesebodies is H O; diacetin," C H O I-I(C H O) triacetin, C H O (C I-I O) These bodies are by some writers termed aoetines and by others glycerides; but I prefer. to distinguish them by the term used in this specificationviz., acetate of glycerine which will apply to any one of the series, itbeingimmaterial, so far as the purpose of this invention is 6011- cerned, which of the three bodies is used. I

It will be understood that the proportions by the nature of the ultimate product desired-1 e, whether a collodion-or liquid varnish is to be prepared or a solid plastic body 8:: or mass which may be molded or worked into various forms. For. pyroxyline varnishes a I larger quantity of liquid solvent or solvents will be used, while a less proportion will be; required for the production of a plastic body or mass. 0 I l The term acetate of glycerine-employed 3 product obtained by boiling anhydrous glycerine with glacial acetic acid for twenty-four pors are caused to fall back condensed upon the boiling mixture. I

What I claim. is I I In the manufacture of pyroxyline compounds, a varnish or plastic compound con sisting of nitro-cellulose in conjunction with acetate of glycerinc, substantially as dc-j scribed. l p

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES norrnr scutrrn ns.

Witnesses:

I-I. SCHOMBURG, H. H. SoHtinMANN. 

